Marine and Fisheries Ministry Develops Village-Based Maritime Tourism

Jakarta, InfoPublik - Indonesia's Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP) continued its efforts to improve coastal communities' economy. One of the efforts include the development of village-based marine tourism. This is one of the flagship programs of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry's Directorate General of Marine Spatial Management, called Dewi Bahari (Marine Goddess)Program.

The Ministry's Marine Spatial Management Director General Aryo Hanggono firmed the necessity of the development of village-based marine tourism, considering its potential to provide economic added value through ecosystem services or coastal culture which may improve community welfare. Local community is encouraged to play an active role as business actors in the development of the marine tourism by utilizing marine and fisheries ecosystem services.

"The Dewi Bahari Program is an effort to increase the economic added value of coastal communities by optimizing the role of village-based communities in supporting the development of sustainable marine tourism," Aryo explained in Jakarta, Sunday (17/05/2020), adding that it also aimed at improving the ecosystem and the environtment, in addition to increasing the economic added value of the use of environmental services by the community.

"Also aims to improve the behavior of coastal communities in environmental management and preservation of coastal culture," he concluded.

Previously the Ministry's Marine Services Director Miftahul Huda in the Webinar "Sharing Management of Village-Based Marine Tourism" explained several criteria of a coastal village that could be developed as a Dewi Bahari site. Dewi Bahari is a coastal village with a potential for tourist attractions (natural, artificial, cultural) and potential for tourism visits, which is supported by local governments, have basic facilities, and demonstrate commitment from its community groups.

"In order to be set as a Dewi Bahari site, a village may submit proposal to the KKP through its Village Head or Local Marine Affairs and Fisheries Office head. The determination may also be done through direct appointment of a village that has received government assistance. In 2016 to 2019, the KKP has provided assistance for marine tourism facilities in 46 regions," Huda explained.

Furthermore, Huda explained that the phases of Dewi Bahari development included community-based planning, coaching, infrastructure development, economic development / partnership, and evaluation and monitoring. "With the intervention of Dewi Bahari in coastal villages, we hope that there will be an increase in economic added value from the use of environmental services by the village community," he concluded.

The webinar which served as a forum for discussion and learning of marine tourism development was attended by more than 150 participants from various regions, agencies, communities, and practitioners of marine tourism. In addition to Marine Services Director, other speakers aprticipated the event, including WWF Indonesia as an institution involved in assisting tourism management (community based tourism), as well as Raja Muda Petuanan Kataloka, Clungup Mangrove Conservation, and Bangsring Underwater managements who shared experiences on the management of eco-tourism based on local communities and local potential.
(Reporter: Baheramshyah, Translator: Penni P. Rusman)